About 300 veterans, residents and School 16 students attended a Memorial Day observance at the Hudson County Korean War Memorial in Jersey City yesterday, where officials said it's important for children to "know what happened" in wars past.

The ceremony, preceded by a brief parade down Washington Street led by bagpipers playing "America the Beautiful," included veterans who noted the bravery of soldiers from America's first war to those involved in the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"There's a direct line from the soldiers of the Revolutionary War to the soldiers today," said city Department of Veterans Affairs official Jaime Vazquez.

Vazquez urged bystanders to keep the soldiers' sacrifices in mind today and every day.

"If we forget, then we are gone," he said.

Jerry Pacillo, 79, of Bayonne fought in the Korean War for 17 months with The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, aka Thunderbird.

Pacillo said he'll spend Memorial Day watching old war movies and visiting departed friends at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.

"I want to just remember these guys," he said. "I was lucky. I came home. They did not."